Toy pistol motion-picture projector



Aug. 10, 1965 5, GOLD TOY PISTOL MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTOR Filed Oct. 4, 1961 INVENTOR SAMUEL GOL 0 BY W, 6412475) ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,199,405 Patented Aug. 10, 1965 3,199,405 TOY PISTOL MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTOR Samuel Gold, Landing, N.J., assignor of one-half to Am G. Gabriel Filed Oct. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 142,822 4 Claims. (Cl. 88-28) This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly to a motion-picture projector which is selfpowered and entirely contained within a casing which resembles a toy pistol.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a simplified shutter and film-advancing mechanism for use in a self-contained motion-picture projector.

Still another feature of the invention is to provide a toy pistol having a self-contained electrically powered motion-picture projecting mechanism wherein the light source and motor are simultaneously controlled by operation of the trigger of the pistol.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a toy pistol containing a mechanism under the control of the trigger to exhibit motion pictures when the film is run in one direction, and to cut off the light source during rewinding of the fihn.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the following specification in connection with the attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in elevation of one form of motion-picture projector constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view on an enlarged scale showing portions of the shutter and film-advancing mechanism; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connections.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral indicates a casing which could be molded of plastic or other material and generally resembling a toy pistol having a grip 11, trigger guard 12, and a hollow barrel 13. As is customary with toys of this type, the casing may be molded in two halves, only one half of which is shown in FIG. 1. The finger-engaging portion 14 of a trigger mechanism is piovtally mouted at 15 to project downwardly within the trigger guard while the upper portion 16 is provided with an electrical contact element 17. A similar contact 18 is secured to the pistol casing for engagement with the contact 17 when the trigger 14 is pulled. A biasing means, such as the spring 19, is provided to hold the contacts out of engagement whenever pressure is released from the trigger.

At the rear end of the barrel 13, a vertically extending supporting plate 20 is provided having a rectangular aperture 21 formed therein in alignment with the barrel 13. Thi aperture is the same size as a single frame of a motion-picture film. A light source, such as a flashlight bulb 22 mounted in a socket 23, is positioned in alignment with the aperture 21, and focussing lens 24 may be positioned within the barrel in front of the aperture.

A strip of motion-picture film 25, which may be of any millimeter size having uniformly paced sprocket holes 26 along one, or both margins, and a series of sequentially arranged pictures or frames 27, is initially contained on a supply spool 28, mounted near the top of the interior of the casing. The film is led from this spool downwardly behind the supporting plates 20 to be attached to a take-up spool 29 mounted near the center of the casing.

Power for driving the mechanism within the casing is supplied by an electric motor 30 having its output in the form of a main gear 31. Electricity is provided in the form of one or more replaceable flashlight batteries 32 mounted in the metal contact clips 33 and 34. A revers ing switch 35 may be mounted within the lower portion of the grip 11 so that its actuating knob 36 may project outwardly of the casing.

Suitable wiring (not shown) for the electrical components is provided in accordance with the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 3, wherein the reversing switch 35 is represented as a conventional double-pole, double-throw switch having two pairs of reversing contacts 37 and 38, and a pair of contact arms 39, alternatively engageable with the reversing contacts in response to movement of the knob 36. One side of the battery 32 is connected by the lead 40 to one of the contacts 37, while the other side of the battery is connected by lead 41 to contact 17 of the trigger. Contact 18 is connected by lead 42 to the other reversing contact 37. The motor 30 and the light bulb 22 are connected in parallel by means of the leads 43 and 44 which are, in turn, connected to the contact arms 39. It will thus be seen that the direction of rotation of the motor 30 will rotate in one direction when the contact arms 39 are in engagement with contacts 37 and in the reverse direction when the contact arms are in engagement with the contacts 38, it being understood that current for driving the motor in either direction and for supplying the bulb will be furnished only when the contacts 17 and 18 are in engagement as a result of rearward pressure exerted on the trigger 14.

The main gear 31 meshes directly with two idler gears 45 and 46 and the idler gear 45 is in driving engagement with a gear 47 which is freely rotatable on the stub shaft 48 which holds the take-up spool 29. Interposed between the gear 47 and the spool 29 is a friction clutch (not shown) of conventional construction by means of which the gear may urge rotation of the spool. The idler gear 46 drives another idler gear 49, which, in turn, meshes with and drives an idler gear 50. The gear 50 is arranged in driving engagement with a gear 51 which is freely rotatable on the stub shaft 52 supporting the supply spool 28. As in the case of the take-up spool, a friction clutch mechanism (not shown) permits the gear 51 to urge rotation on the spool 28. It will thus be seen that rotation of the main gear 31 will tend to cause, through the medium of the various idler gears and friction clutch mechanisms, the film 25 to be wound from one spool to the other in accordance with the direction of rotation. However, the friction clutch mechanism connected with the take-up spool 29 is adjusted so that the force it exerts is weaker than the force exerted by the friction clutch mechanism connected with the supply spool 28. The reason for this adjustment will become clear later.

The shutter mechanism comprises a flat plate 53, the side marginal edges of which, 54 and 55, are bent forwardly so as to slidably engage with the side margins of the supporting plate 20. The shutter plate is provided with a rectangular aperture 56 which is of the same size as one of the frames 27 of the film, and in one position of the shutter, the aperture 56 will register with aperture 21 of the supporting plate. However, when the shutter is moved upwardly, the lower opaque portion 57 serves to cut off the light completely. The shutter is also provided with a smaller aperture 58, so positioned that when the aperture 56 is in registry with one of the frames of the film, the smaller aperture 58 will register with one of the sprocket holes 26.

The film-advancing mechanism includes an elongated strip 59 having a forwardly projecting claw 60 near its upper end. The lower end of the strip is provided with an elongated slot 61 having a length approximately equal to the vertical dimension of one of the frames 27. This slot slidably engages with a supporting pin 62 attached to the interior of the casing. The upper end of the strip 59 is provided with a generally oval-shaped opening 63 which loosely surrounds a guide pin 64 attached to the interior of the casing. This arrangement permits the strip 59 to reciprocate in a direction generally parallel with the direction of movement of the film and also permits the upper end of the strip to reciprocate in a direction at right angles to the length of the strip. These combined movements cause the claw 60 to be capable of movement in a generally oval-shaped orbit. A pair of springs 65 and 66 connected to the upper end of the strip urge it in an upward and rearward direction to a position where the claw is out of engagement with a sprocket hole in the film although the guide pin 64 limits the rearward movement of the claw so that it will alway remain in operative engage ment with the aperture 58 of the shutter.

The idler gear 45, in addition to driving the take-up spool, is arranged in operative engagement with a gear 67 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 68. Arranged concentrically with the gear 67 and fixed thereto, are arranged in side by side relationship, a patrial set of teeth 69 and a single lobed cam 70. The teeth 69 mesh with a similar set of teeth 71 arranged in a straight line and projecting outwardly from the rear edge of the strip 59. The cam 70 is arranged so that during the period of time that the teeth 69 are in engagement with the teeth 71, it will bear against the rear edge of the strip 59 to urge it forwardly against the resistance of spring 66 to position the claw 60 in engagement with one of the sprocket holes in the film. At the beginning of one cycle of operation, the aperture 56 of the shutter is positioned in alignment with the aperture 21, and one frame of the film strip; the film being then at rest. Rotation of gear 67 causes teeth 69 to pull the shutter 53 downwardly until the aperture 21 is covered by an opaque portion of the shutter, at which point the cam lobe 70 will push the claw 60 forwardly into engagement with the sprocket hole in the film. Further rotation of the gear 67 causes downward movement of both the shutter and the film, the aperture 21 being still covered by an opaque portion of the shutter. At this point the cam 70 will release the claw from engagement with the film under the influence of spring 66. At the same time the partial gear teeth 69 will disengage with the teeth 71 and spring 65 will pull the claw means and shutter upwardly, while the film is at rest, to again uncover the aperture 21. At this point the above cycle will be repeated.

When the main gear 31 turns in a counter-clockwise direction, both the take-up and supply gears 47 and 51 will also rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, but since the friction clutch on the take-up spool is Weaker than the one on the supply spool, the film 25 will move downwardly only under the intermittent actuation of the claw 60. When the motor is reversed, the main gear 31 will turn in a clockwise direction and the take-up and supply spools will also rotate clockwise. Since the claw 60 is disengaged and the supply spool clutch is stronger than that of the take-up spool, the film will be reversed so as to move upwardly and return to the supply spool 28.

When it is desired to reverse the film and wind it back on the supply spool 28, the reversing switch knob 36 is set to drive the main gear 31 in a clockwise direction causing both spools to turn in a similar direction to rewind the film. During this operation, since the strip 59 and the shutter 53 are held in their upward positions by the spring 65, the partial gear teeth 69 will not actuate these mechanisms and the film will be rewound while the light is cut off from the film.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that this invention provides an ingenious and novel amusement device which is simple in construction and easily fabricated. While, in the present embodiment, the pictureprojecting mechanism has been shown as being encased within a housing resembling a toy pistol, it will be obvious that it could be contained within a variety of various sizes and shapes of encasements. It will also be apparent that other modifications and improvements could be made which would come within the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In mechanisms for intermittently advancing and exhibiting motion-picture film, means to guide a strip of film for lengthwise movement, said film having uniformly spaced sprocket openings along one margin, shutter means movable in a plane parallel with the film, claw means comprising a projecting element and strip member integral therewith, said projecting element adapted to engage with said shutter means and to removably engage with a film sprocket opening, means to mount the claw means for reciprocatory movement in a first path parallel with the film movement and concurrent in a second path normal thereto, means to urge said claw means in one direction in said first path and in one direction in said second path to disengage said projecting element, drive means movably mounted for intermittent engagement with said claw means in one direction to move aid claw means concurrently in said first and second directions, and motor means to move said drive means, said integral strip member of said claw means being provided with a plurality of paced teeth and said drive means including a rotatably mounted partial gear intermittently engageable with said first mentioned teeth.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a rotatably mounted single lobed cam operatively engageable with said integral strip member of said claw means and coaxially movable with said partial gear.

3. In mechanisms for intermittently advancing and exhibiting motion-picture film, means to guide a strip of film for lengthwise movement, said film having uniformly spaced sprocket openings along one margin, shutter means movable in a plane parallel with the film, claw means comprising a projecting element and strip member integral therewith, said projecting element adapted to engage with said shutter means and to removably engage with a film sprocket opening, means to mount the claw means for reciprocatory movement in a first path parallel with the film movement and concurrent in a second path normal thereto, means to urge said claw means in one direction in said first path and in one direction in said second path to disengage said projecting element, drive means movably mounted for intermittent engagement with said claw means in one direction to move said claw means concurrently in said first and second directions, and motor means to move said drive means, said shutter means including a plate mounted for reciprocatory movement in a path parallel to that of the film, said plate being provided with an opening in alignment with the sprocket holes of the film, said projecting element of the claw mean extending through said opening in the plate to move the shutter means and film.

4. In shutter mechanisms for motion-picture projectors, the combination including, means to guide a strip of film for lengthwise movement, said film being provided with uniformly spaced sprocket openings along a lengthwise margin, a plate having an opening corresponding to the area of a single frame of the film, said plate having an opaque area adjacent one side of the opening at least as large as the area of one frame of the film, means to mount the plate for reciprocatory movement parallel with the direction of movement of the film, support means to movably support the claw means for intermittent engage 5 6 ment with said plate and a sprocket opening of the film, 2,146,237 2/39 Stephens 88-28 and drive means to reciprocate said claw means in one 2,301,054 11/42 Laing 226-62 direction in engagement With the plate and sprocket opening to advance the film and to reciprocate the claw means FOREIGN PATENTS in the reverse direction in engagement only with the plate. 5 330,248 6/30 Great Britain.

397,063 8/33 Great Britain. References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner.

1,912,153 5/33 Manson et a1 352 .124 EMIL G. ANDERSON, WILLIAM MISIEK, Examiners. 2,144,909 1/39 Atkinetal "883-24 

1. IN MECHANISMS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCING AND EXHIBITING MOTION-PICTURE FILM, MEANS TO GUIDE A STRIP OF FILM FOR LENGTHWISE MOVEMENT, SAID FILM HAVING UNIFORMLY SPACED SPROCKET OPENINGS ALONG ONE MARGIN, SHUTTER MEANS MOVABLE IN A PLANE PARALLEL WITH THE FILM, CLAW MEANS COMPRISING A PROJECTING ELEMENT AND STRIP MEMBER INTEGRAL THEREWITH, SAID PROJECTING ELEMENT ADAPTED TO ENGAGE WITH SAID SHUTTER MEANS AND TO REMOVABLY ENGAGE WITH A FILM SPROCKET OPENING, MEANS TO MOUNT THE CLAW MEANS FOR RECIPROCATORY MOVMEENT IN A FIRST PATH PARALLEL WITH THE FILM MOVEMENT AND CONCURRENT IN A SECOND PATH NORMAL THERETO, MEANS TO URGE SAID CLAW MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION IN SAID FIRST PATH AND IN ONE DIRECTION IN SAID SECOND PATH TO DISENGAGE SAID PROJECTING ELEMENT, DRIVE MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED FOR INTERMITTENT ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CLAW MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION TO MOVE SAID CLAW MEANS CONCURRENTLY IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND DIRECTIONS, AND MOTOR 